Emergence
We often use the word “emergence” (or “emerge”), but is there a deeper meaning? For instance, in the 20th century physicists noticed that complexity can ‘emerge’ from simple subsystems. Was this discovery special, and does it reflect how other disciplines use this word? To help dive into the matter, starting in physics, and working out towards the arts, I have recruited some great minds to come and share their research and how that shapes their understanding of the concept of emergence. Please join on this journey and see whether a common understanding … emerges.

Speakers in order of appearence on this event-page. Titles are as follows:

Emergence: storytelling for multi-particle creatures in a complex Universe
Emergence and symmetries
The emergence of intelligence: from bitter lessons to universal minds
Why are we waiting? Queues and other emergent behaviour in economics.
Inventing the wheel: How public transport first became a network
Emergence: becoming photography

Date: 29 June 2025, 13:00
Venue: Clarendon Laboratory, Parks Road OX1 3PU
Venue Details: Martin Wood Lecture Theatre
Speakers: Prof Stephen Blundell (University of Oxford), Marta Bielińska (University of Oxford), Alex Spies (Imperial College London), Matthew Oulton, (Institute for Fiscal Studies), Yannik Herbert (University of Oxford), Justine Varga (University of Oxford)
Organising department: Physics (Central)
Organiser: Seb Wilkes (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: juan.martinezwilkes@physics.ox.ac.uk
Host: Seb Wilkes (University of Oxford)
Booking required?: Not required
Booking url: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSex5tRLQnw7yVJGuXfgAkXMVrmXAPJ68Z9hYik2GmDlROUcvQ/viewform?usp=dialog
Cost: 0.00
Audience: Members of the University only
Editor: Juan Martinez Wilkes